Justice secretary David Lammy has announced a 10-year increase in the minimum sentence for domestic murder in England and Wales, following years of tireless campaigning by three grieving mothers. The change means murderers who kill their current or ex-partner will now face a starting point of 25 years, up from 15 years, closing a sentencing gap that previously meant domestic killings were punished less severely than murders in other settings.
Campaigners' emotional meeting with Lammy
Carole Gould, whose 17-year-old daughter Ellie was killed by fellow sixth-former Thomas Griffiths in 2019, and Julie Devey, whose daughter Poppy Devey Waterhouse, 24, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Joe Atkinson in 2018, met with Lammy in his Westminster office. They showed him photographs of their daughters and other women killed by partners. Gould recalled saying: "Imagine this was your daughter." When Lammy said he had the power to change sentencing, Gould interjected: "Well, if you've got the power, David, why don't you just level up sentencing all to 25 years?" After a moment of silence, Lammy replied: "All right, I will."
Impact of previous sentencing guidelines
Under the previous rules, killers who attacked in a domestic setting with weapons from the home faced a maximum of 15 years, 10 years fewer than if the murder occurred on the street or with a weapon brought to the scene. Atkinson's sentence was fixed at 16 years; Griffiths got 12 and a half years. The mothers said this implied their daughters' lives were worth a decade less. Elaine Newborough, whose 23-year-old daughter Megan was murdered by her boyfriend Ross McCullam in 2021, also joined the campaign.
Campaign group Killed Women
Devey and Gould launched the organisation Killed Women, led by families of women killed by men. They ran several campaigns: "You were told" (2023) highlighting system failures, "Fallen Women" (2024) pressuring police to examine domestic abuse in women's falls from height, and "Invisible Women" (2025) addressing vulnerabilities of black, minoritised and migrant victims. They also worked with the Guardian on the "Killed Women Count" campaign, which reported every known death of a woman allegedly killed by a man in 2024.
Support from politicians
Labour MP Jess Phillips, who has supported the group since its inception, shepherded families into the Commons chamber on Tuesday. Phillips, who resigned as safeguarding minister in May, said the women had righted a "fundamental unfairness" in the criminal justice system. The new measure is subject to consultation with the sentencing council. The domestic abuse commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, expressed disappointment that the increase does not apply to victims killed by family members, including sons killing mothers or so-called "honour"-based abuse.
Campaigners' determination
Devey said: "We'll keep going. We're not going to stop now." Gould is focused on ensuring the new guidelines apply when her daughter's killer faces the Parole Board. She said: "This is a recognition that he is as dangerous as someone inside for 25 years." Reflecting on the moment after her daughter's killer was sentenced, when a barrister told her the law "was cold", Gould said: "I always thought, from that moment onwards: 'I'm going to show you one day this is wrong.' And today we have."
